Impulse counting relay



Aug. 14, 1951 c. N. HICKMAN IMPULSE COUNTING RELAY 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed July 5, 1947 43 M/VE/VTOP C Nil/CK MAN By W j TTORNEV 1951 c. N. HICKMAN I 2,564,432

IMPULSE COUNTING RELAY Original Filed July 5, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 3

A TTOlQ/VEV Aug. 14, 1951 c. N. HICKMAN IMPULSE COUNTING RELAY 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed July 5, 1947 FIG. 7A

M/l/EN TOE C .N. H/C/(MAN By j ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 14, 1951 IMPULSE COUNTING RELAY Clarence N. Hickman, Jackson Heights, N. Y., assignor to Bell Telephone Laboratories, Incorporated, New York, York Original application Jul Divided and th 1949, Serial No. 107,156

17 Claims. 1

This invention relates to stepping relays, and more particularly "to improvements in 'magnetic contact counting relays of the type disclosed by G. R. Stibitz 'in Patent 2,305,450, issued December 15,1942.

One object of the invention is to "provide impulse selective signaling means which are free from rotating mechanical parts and which are more compact and more economical than the ratchet type selector switches now in use.

A further object is to provide an improved type of magnetic contact counting relay suitable for counting electrical impulses, which is more compact, more sensitive, and more reliable than the stepping relays heretofore known to the art.

Automatic telephone signaling systems now in service generally employ ratchet type selector switches which include a rotating contact arm sweeping across fixed contacts step by step as a mechanical ratchet is advanced in response to electrical impulses. Certain disadvantages of such selectors-are that they'are cumbersome and bulky, require careful adjustment, are slow to respond and require considerable power for their operation due to the mass of moving parts and the distance through which motion is required. Furthermore, noise may be introduced into the communication system through wear of the wiping contacts. Even the most modern of selector switches are delicate, costly pieces of apparatus, and are not well suited to such applications as mobile radio telephone installations.

To overcome these disadvantages the inventor has devised a selective signaling circuit employing magnetic contact counting relays as disclosed by his copending application Serial No. 758,904, filed July 3, 1947, of which the present is a-divi- 'sional application relating to the improved relay structure employed therein.

. The relay of the invention comprises a staggered arrangement of fixed pole-pieces and a bifurcated design forthe magnetic armature reed, whereby the over-all height of a relay structure with a given number of contacts may be reduced by one-third, and continuous positive closure is assured at all contacts. Details of the magnetic contact counting relay which comprises the pres ent invention'will become apparent from a study ofthe accompanying drawings as described hereafter.

Fig. '1 is an isometric drawing of 'a relay of the type embodied in the present invention;

Fig. "2 is "an exploded and partly cut-away view of the relay of Fig. 1 more clearly disclosing certain elements thereof;

N. Y., a corporation of New y 3, 1947, Serial No. is application July '28,

Fig. 3 is a front view with perspective to show the assembly of field pole-pieces with their related .armatures and insulated studs. All armatures here illustrated are in their normal downward biased positions;

Fig. 4 shows a single armature lamination with insulated stud extending downwardly;

Fig. 5 shows another armature element with an alternative arrangement at the insulating stud. In this case, if the stud extends on both sides of the armature, only alternate armature laminations in a relay stack need be provided with studs. This alternative arrangement may be a more economical form of construction for the manufacture of magnetic contact counting relays of the type herein disclosed;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of one layerof laminations for the relay of Figs. '1 and 2 showing the configuration of pole-pieces l and 2 and armature reed l5 immediately below;

Fig. 6A is a front view of Fig. 6 showing the insulated stud which is secured to and extends from armature reed [5.

The assembly illustrated by Figs. 6 and-6A may be the first, or top, layer of a relay stack such as shown by Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the next layer of field laminations adjacent to the layer of Fig.6, showing the armature .reed l5 of Fig. 6 in position immediately above the right 'field lamination '4 and another reed armature l6 offset to the left and immediately below in juxtaposition to the underside of both the left and right field laminations 3 and 4, respectively;

Fig. 7A is a front view of Fig. '7, showing insulating Stud 75 extending from armature l5 and bearing upon armature l6, and stud 75 extending from armature 15;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of a third layer of field laminations next adjacent to the layer of Fig. '7, showing the lower armature reed 16 of Fig. 7 adjacent to and above the left field lamination 5 of this third layer, and a fifth armature reed ll oilset to the right and below in juxtaposition to the underside of both field laminations 5 and 6 of this layer;

Fig. 8A is a front view of Fig. 8 showing insulated stud 16 extending from armature l6 and bearing upon armature IT, with stud I1 extending from armature H.

The fourth layer of the laminated stack is not shown in separate drawings but would appear the same as the first layer illustrated by Figs. 6 and 6A. Similarly, the fifth layer corresponds Y 3 to the second layer as illustrated by Figs. '7 and 7A, etc.

The structure and operation of the magnetic contact counting relay, which comprises the present invention will now be described. Referring to Figs. 1 to 8, it will be seen that the relay structure includes an upper left field lamination I, and an upper right field lamination 2, positioned in the same plane but not in conductive engagement with each other, spaced below these laminations, in a plane parallel to the first layer, another pair of left and right field laminations 3 and 3, respectively, but not in conductive engagement with each other, and interposed between the two layers an armature lamination l5, the shape of which is clearly disclosed by the perspective drawings Figs. 4 and 5, and by the plan view of Fig. 6. The armature lamination i5 is insulated from the adjacent field laminations by interposed laminations 22 of insulating material. Armature reed l6 similar to [5 but offset to the left is interposed between the second and third layers of field laminations 3, 4 and 5, 6. Similarly, armature reeds l8 and 20, which are identical with F6, are offset to the left and interposed between the fourth and fifth layers and sixth and seventh layers of field laminations, respectively. In like manner, armature reeds I! and I9, which are identical with reed l5, are respectively interposed between the third and fourth, and fifth and sixth, layers of field laminations. The armature reeds in each layer are insulated from their adjacent field laminations by interposed laminations of insulating material 22 through 21. The top and bottom of the stack are bounded by clamping plates 36 and 3?, respectively, formed of non-magnetic material, and held in a rigid assembly by screws 38. Clamping plates 36 and 37 are insulated from the remaining structure by insulating laminations 35 and 29. Interposed between the top clamping plates and the top layer of field laminations are left and right coil terminal supports SI and 32, respectively, insulated from each other and from the remaining structure by insulating laminations 35 and 30. At the opposite end of the stack, between the bottom clamping plate and the bottom layer of field laminations, are placed bottom coil terminal supports 33 and 34, insulated from each other and from the remaining structure by laminations of insulating material 2 and 29.

Surrounding the pole-pieces of the left field laminations is energizing coil LC, as shown in Fig. 1, supported by forward extending T portions of top and bottom clamping plates 49 and 4|, and by terminals secured to brackets 35 and 33. Surrounding the pole-pieces of the right field laminations is energizing coil RC shown partially cut away in Fig. 1, supported by the same forward-extending T portions 43 and 4 I, and by terminals secured to brackets 32 and 34. Coils LC and RC may, if desired, be wound upon copper sleeves to provide slow-release characteristics for either side of'the relay device. As will be seen in the detailed description of the preferred arrangement of my selective signaling system which follows, coil LC of one such relay is provided with such a slow-releasing copper sleeve.

The completed assembly is clamped together by means of bolts 38 which extend through aligned holes 39 in the assembled members and which may be threaded into tapped holes in the lower clamping plate 31 or into locking nuts at their lower ends. These bolts are insulated from the assembled members through which they pass by means of insulating sleeves. The upper and lower clamping plates 36 and 31 are provided with outturned ears 32 and 43 which serve as mounting brackets by means of which the complete relay structure may be secured to a suitable relay rack. The end clamping plates are formed of nonmagnetic material, whereas the armature reeds and field piece laminations are formed of magnetic material having a high degree of permeability,

The armature reeds extend forwardly in a position to move freely between the faces of the left and right energizing coils LC and RC, and between the pole-pieces of the associated field laminations. Secured to both the top and bottom surfaces of the forward-extending end of each armature reed are contacts 44 of magnetic material, shown clearly in Figs. 3 and 4. Secured to corresponding surfaces of adjacent pole-pieces, as seen in Figs. 2, 3 and 7A, are similar contacts of magnetic material 53 and 54 so placed as to engage conductively with corresponding armature reed contacts 44.

This structure differs from the relay disclosed by Stibitz in Patent 2,305,450 in that my armature reeds and associated pole-pieces are grouped in a staggered arrangement which permits a reduction of one-third in the over-all height of a relay for any given purpose. This makes for a more compact structure which is more economical of manufacture and more reliable in operation.

The manner in which these advantages are brought about will be more clearly understood from a detailed analysis of the relay operation which follows.

In idle condition, with neither left nor righ operating coils energized, the armature reeds may extend freely between alternate layers of polepieces without conductive engagement between contacts. However, to make the relay less sensitive to vibration or mechanical shock these armature reeds are normally biased into conductive engagement with the lower pole-piece in each layer as illustrated by Fig. 3.

Reference is now made to Fig. 3 which is a perspective drawing illustrative of the essential operating elements embodied in a three-digit counting relay such as Fig. 1, viewed from the front. It will be observed from Figs. 3, 4, 6A, 7A and 8A that an insulated stud is secured to the underside of each armature reed in such manner that its free end extends downwardly between layers and rests upon the next armature immediately below. These studs are hidden from view in drawings Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 but are clearly represented in Fig. 3 by element 15 secured to armature [5, I6 secured to armature I6, (1 secured to armature ll, 18 secured to armature I8 and 19 secured to armature 19.

By the alternative form of construction illustrated in Fig. 5, the insulating stud may be made to extend through the armature reed so as to protrude an equal distance both above and below the armature lamination, with which arrangement studs need be provided only for every alternate armature lamination in a given stack. This construction may be more economical of manufacture, but in either arrangement, whether each armature be provided with an insulating stud extending in one direction only or whether alternate armatures be provided with throughextending studs protruding in both directions, the operation of the relay device will be the same.

Now, to analyze the operation of this relay we Start from idle condition with all armatures "engagement with left-hand biased downwardly :into conductive engagement with the adjacent pole-piece immediately'beneath each armature. .It will-be seen thatif the right- ;hand energizing coil RC is first energized, no

:action will take place because the top armature l5 'will be held .againsteits lower right-hand pole- -piece 4 in conductive engagement withmagnetic contacts 53 and@54 through the magnetic attraction of this lpole. Although this pole-piece 4 is also exerting .an upward attraction for :armature 116, it will be seen that'thisarmatureiisprevented from moving upwardly through the downward force :exerted by insulated stud 15. Similarly, armature 18 which is now attracted by Iright :hand pole-piece B is prevented from rising through the intervention of :insulated stud .11 whichlis secured toi'armature l1 .nowheld in con ductive engagement with pole-piece 8 through amagn'etic contacts M and 6-2 :and also :helddown by'stud 16 depending frcinarmature l6. Inlike manner, each successive armature is disabled by the downward force from each insulating stud secured to the :arxnature immediately above.

hand pole-piece l, 'iss'till held in conductive engagement with right-hand pole-piece 4 so long as right-hand energizingcoil RC is energized. However, if coil RC is next deenergized, armature IE will then be attracted upwardly into conductive pole-piece I through magnetic contact 51. This lifts insulating stud 15 from the top of armature l3 but no motion of armature l6 occurs because this armature is now held in conductive engagement with left- :hand pole-piece 5, through magneticcontacts 5'! and Y58. Now if coil 'RC is energized, no further action will take place until coil is deenergized at'which time armature 15 will be attracted upwardly .into conductive engagementwith righthand pole-piece 4 through magnetic contact 56. When armature it comes up, its insulated stud F16is lifted from armature I 1 thus enabling armature I! to operate upon the next sequential energization of coil LC followed by deenergization of coil RC. Inthis manner subsequent armatures may be successively enabled and operated through sequential energization and 'deenergization alternately of coils LC and RC. Thus if the two energizing coils are properly connected with a continuity changeover pulsing relay, a means is provided for counting electrical impulses as received. In such an arrangement one relay armature comes up when an electrical impulse starts and the next armature immediatel below comes up when the impulse ends, thus two armatures are employed for counting each impulse. The structure of Fig. 3 which we have just examined, contains only six armatures which would enable this device to count only three pulses.

It will be apparent that modifications and variations of the arrangements herein disclosed may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An impulse counting relay comprising two groups of magnetic members, means insulating said members and groups from each other, members of each group comprising alternate layers of long and short pole-pieces arranged with the long police-pieces of each group adjacent to short pole-pieces of the other group, armatures of magnetic material interposed in staggered relationship between layers of said members with each arinatureunderlying adjacent pole-pieces of both groups on one side and overlyinga single pole- -piece of one group on the other-side, said armatures normally insulated from said members and pole-pieces but attractable into conductive engagement therewith, separate energizing coils surrounding each group of said members, mechanical coupling means extending between adjacent armatures whereby upon the alternate energization and dcenergization of said coils said armatures are sequentially attracted into conductive engagement with adjacent pole-pieces of hothgroups of members.

2. A counting relay comprising in two piles magneticlaminations of alternate longand short :pole pieces stacked adjacent to but insulated from each other, with the long pole-pieces of each pile adjacent respectively to the short polepieces of the opposite pile, armature springs :of

magnetic material interposed in staggered arrangement between layers of said laminations with each armature spring underlying adjacent pole-pieces =01" both piles in one layer and overlying a pole-piece of but one pile in the adjoin- .ing layer, said armature springs insulated from each other and from said laminations but attractable into -.conductive engagement therewith, an insulated coupling stud secured to each of said armature springs, eaoh'of said studs bearing upon an adjacent armature spring whereby said springs are normally held in engagement with their respective underlying pole-pieces, and separate energizing coils surrounding each pile of magnetic laininatlons whereby upon alternate -energization and deenergization of said coils said springs are sequentially attracted into conductive engagement with adjacent pairs of polepieces in both piles.

3. A relay comprising two adjacent stacks of field laminations of magnetic material having alternate layers of long and short pole-pieces of one stack opposite respectively to alternate short and long pole-pieces of theopposite stack, armature tongues of magnetic material interposed be tweenlayers of said .field laminations in a m'anner such that each armature underlies both long and short pole-pieces of a layer in both stacks and overlies only a long pole-piece of one stack in the adjoining layer, means separating said pole-pieces and iarlnatures from each other re-' spectively, further means .for sequentially attracting said armature tongues into conductive engagement with adjacent pole-pieces of both stacks, said further means comprising insulated mechanical studs extending between adjacent armature tongues whereby said tongues are normally held disengaged from adjacent pairs of pole-pieces, and separate energizing coils surrounding each stack of field laminations whereby upon alternate energization and deenergization of said coils said tongues are successively attracted into conductive engagement with adjacent pairs of pole-pieces in both stacks,

4. An impulse counting relay comprising two groups of field laminations of magnetic material, stacked in adjacent piles having alternate layers of long and short lamination pole-pieces in each group, with alternate short and long pole-pieces of one group opposite alternate short and long pole-pieces of the other group respectively, laminations of insulating material interposed between said field laminations, reeds of magnetic material interleaved between layers of said field laminations in both groups and normally separated therefrom but attractable into conductive engagement therewith, each of said reeds underlying pole-pieces of both groups in one layer and overlying a pole-piece of but one group, an electrical terminal extending from each of said 1aminations, insulated mechanical coupling means extending between adjacent reeds whereby said reeds are normally restrained from conductive engagement with overlying pole-pieces of both groups, and separate energizing coils surrounding each of said groups of field laminations respectivel whereby upon energization and deenergization of said coils alternately said reeds are successively attracted into conductive engagement with their respective overlying pairs of polepieces to sequentially establish electrical continuity between pairs of terminals in each layer of laminations.

5. An impulse receiving means comprising a plurality of field laminations of magnetic material stacked in two adjacent groups of alternate long and short pole-pieces with the lon polepieces of one stack aligned opposite short polepieces of the other stack, laminations of insulating material interposed between adjacent layers of said magnetic laminations, magnetic armature interposed between adjacent layers of said field laminations and insulated therefrom but attractable into conductive engagement therewith, said armatures each underlying both long and short pole-pieces of a layer in both groups of laminations and overlying a long pole-piece of but one group of laminations, electrical terminals extending externally from each of said laminations and armatures, mechanical coupling means extending between adjacent armatures whereby said armatures are normally restrained from conductive engagement with adjacent pairs of overlying pole-pieces, and energizing coils surrounding each group of field laminations whereby upon alternate energization and deenergization of said coils said armatures are successively attracted into conductive engagement with their respective pairs of overlying pole-pieces to sequentially establish electrical continuity between each of said armatures and a pair of terminals in each layer of field laminations.

6. An impulse counting device comprising magnetic field laminations of alternate long and short pole-pieces stacked in two piles adjacent to but r insulated from each other, with the long polepieces of each pile adjacent respectively to the short pole-pieces of the opposite pile, armature springs of magnetic material interposed in staggered arrangement between layers of said field lamination and insulated therefrom but attractable into conductive engagement therewith, each of said armature springs underlying pole-pieces of both piles and overlying a pole-piece of but one pile, insulated coupling studs secured to said armature springs and bearing upon the adjacent armature springs in a manner to maintain each springs'engagement with its underlying polepiece, a plurality of external terminals connected with each of said laminations, and a pair of energizing coils surrounding laminations of each pile whereby upon alternate energization and deenergization of said coils said armatures are sequentially attracted into conductive engagement with adjacent pairs of overlying pole-pieces to successively establish electrical continuity be: tween correspondin pairs of said external 'terminals.

7. Impulse responsive means comprising in stacked relationship a plurality of magnetic laminations in two adjoining groups, said laminations in each group comprising alternate layers of lon and hort pole-pieces with the long polepieces of each group adjacent respectively to the short pole-pieces of the adjoining group, means insulating said laminations from each other, bifurcated armature tongues of magnetic material interposed between layers of said laminations and insulated therefrom but attractable into conductive engagement therewith, each of said armature tongues underlying pole-pieces of both groups and overlying a pole-piece of one roup, insulated mechanical studs extending between adjacent armature tongues in a manner to restrain each tongue from engagement with its overlying pair of pole-pieces and to normally maintain each tongues engagement with its underlying polepiece, a plurality of incomplete electrical paths between adjacent pairs of said laminations, and a pair of energizing coils, one coil surrounding laminations of each group, whereby upon alter nate energization and deenergization of said coils said armatures are sequentially attracted into conductive engagement with adjacent pairs of overlying pole-pieces to complete said electrical REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Stibitz Dec. 15, 1942 Number 

